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Scientific name: Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don 1830
Synonyms: Abies deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) Lindl., Cedrus indica Chambray, Larix deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) K.Koch, Cedrus libani var. deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) Hook.f., Cedrus libani subsp. deodora (Roxb. ex D.Don) P.D.Sell, Larix deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) K.Koch, Pinus deodara Roxb. ex D.Don, Pinus deodara Roxb.
Common names: Deodar cedar, Himalayan cedar (English), Deodar (Hindi)
Tree to 50(-75) m tall, with trunk to 3(-4.5) m in diameter. Bark grayish brown, narrowly and irregularly ridged. Crown remaining conical in forest-grown trees but breaking up and flattening in age on exposed sites, with long horizontal branches bearing drooping side branches. Young long shoots densely hairy with short, light brown hairs. Winter buds 1-2 mm long, not conspicuously resinous. Needles in tufts of 15-25(-30) on short shoots, dark green, 2.5-4(-6) cm long, with a long prickly point. Pollen cones (4-)6-8 cm long, reddish brown. Seed cones 7.5-12.5 cm long, (5-)6-8(-9) cm across, grayish green with reddish highlights before maturity, ripening dark reddish brown, broadly rounded, flattened, or indented at the tip. Seed scales 3-4 cm long, 3-4(-4.5) cm wide, with tan hairs on the hidden lower surface. Seed body 10-15 mm long, the wing 10-20 mm longer.
The Deodar cedar is the grandest tree of the western Himalaya, giving credence to the scientific and Hindi common names, both derived from the Sanskrit devadaru, "tree of the gods".
Western Himalaya from eastern Afghanistan to western Nepal. Forming extensive pure forests or mixed with other conifers and hardwoods in montane and subalpine forests; (1,300-)2,000-2,500(-3,300) m.
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern
Logging of Cedrus deodara undoubtedly affected the population, presumably removing the bigger trees in those areas most extensively logged. Regeneration has occurred in many areas and there are still many extensive forests left. This species is Least Concern.
Cedrus deodara is a high mountain tree, but it occurs in a wide range of habitats in the Himalaya. It grows in a belt at elevations between 17,00 m and 3,000 m a.s.l. in the western part of its range and between 1,300 m and 3,300 m in the eastern part, where the climate is less dry. It grows on a variety of alpine lithosols. The climate is moist monsoon, but the increasing moisture in the E Himalayas is a limiting factor; towards the west it becomes moderately dry, with annual precipitation less than 750 mm in the most western part of its range. At higher elevations it forms a coniferous forest belt with, among other species, Abies pindrow, Abies spectabilis in Nepal, Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana, and Cupressus torulosa, but forms often also pure stands. At the highest limits of Cedrus, Juniperus squamata is the only accompanying conifer species. At lower elevations first Quercus spp., then Aesculus indica, Betula sp., Corylus jaquemontii, Acer spp., Prunus spp. and shrubs mark the transition towards a broad-leaved forest.
Intensive logging (legal and illegal) in some parts of its range (e.g. Afghanistan) may pose a localized threat. Deforestation and conversion of forests for agriculture may also pose local threats in some parts of Pakistan and India.
Himalayan cedar is a very important timber tree in Pakistan, Kashmir and NW India. Its strong and durable wood is mostly used for construction. Other uses are general carpentry and furniture. A fragrant oil can be distilled from wood chips and sawdust. It was first introduced in England in 1822 as an ornamental tree, but as a park tree it remains less common than the two Mediterranean species. It is generally more susceptible to 'late' frost than these and also requires more moisture. Young trees especially have a distinct habit with drooping leaders and are commonly used in gardens. This use has led to the selection of several cultivars, with different habit including dwarf forms and/or with varying foliage colours; most of these are in cultivation in Central Europe.
This species is known from several protected areas across its range.
Cedrus deodara ’Albospica’ Cedrus deodara ’Anny’s Dwarf’ Cedrus deodara ’Argentea’ Cedrus deodara ’Aurea’ Cedrus deodara ’Aurea Pendula’ Cedrus deodara ’Aurea Prostrata’ Cedrus deodara ’Aurea Well’s’ Cedrus deodara ’Aureospica’ Cedrus deodara ’Beaverton’ Cedrus deodara ’Bergman’s Golden Prostrate’ Cedrus deodara ’Bewley’s Variegated’ Cedrus deodara ’Bill’s Blue’ Cedrus deodara ’Blau Fuchs’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Angel’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Ball’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Dwarf’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Gem’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Glacier’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Mountain Broom’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Pygmaea’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Snake’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Surprise’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Triumph’ Cedrus deodara ’Blue Velvet’ Cedrus deodara ’Bonte Sport’ Cedrus deodara ’Brackens Best Cedar’ Cedrus deodara ’Bracken’s Select’ Cedrus deodara ’Buffalo’ Cedrus deodara ’Bush’s Electra’ Cedrus deodara ’Cheltenham’ Cedrus deodara ’Clarke’ Cedrus deodara ’Compacta’ Cedrus deodara ’Contorta’ Cedrus deodara ’Contorted Growth’ Cedrus deodara ’Crassifolia’ Cedrus deodara ’Cream Puff’ Cedrus deodara ’Crystal Falls’ Cedrus deodara ’Decanso Dwarf’ Cedrus deodara ’Deep Cove’ Cedrus deodara ’Descancio Dwarf’ Cedrus deodara ’Divinely Blue’ Cedrus deodara ’Droop Tip’ Cedrus deodara ’Ed Lohbrunner’ Cedrus deodara ’Eisregen’ Cedrus deodara ’Eiswinter’ Cedrus deodara ’Elektra’ Cedrus deodara ’Electric Blue’ Cedrus deodara ’Emerald Falls’ Cedrus deodara ’Emerald Spreader’ Cedrus deodara ’Emerald Spreader’ Cedrus deodara ’Erecta’ Cedrus deodara ’Fallout’ Cedrus deodara ’Fancy’ Cedrus deodara ’Fastigiata’ Cedrus deodara ’Feelin’ Blue’ Cedrus deodara ’Feelin’ Sunny’ Cedrus deodara ’First Snow’ Cedrus deodara ’Flava’ Cedrus deodara ’Fontinalis’ Cedrus deodara ’Fructolineata’ Cedrus deodara ’Girard Weeping’ Cedrus deodara ’Glacier Blue’ Cedrus deodara ’Glauca’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Cascade’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Cone’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Gowa’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Mound’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Nugget’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Rush’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Strike’ Cedrus deodara ’Gold Tip’ Cedrus deodara ’Golden Horizon’ Cedrus deodara ’Golden Jubilee’ Cedrus deodara ’Gracilis’ Cedrus deodara ’Harvest Gold’ Cedrus deodara ’Hesse’ Cedrus deodara ’Hibernal’ Cedrus deodara ’Hollandia’ Cedrus deodara ’Home Park’ Cedrus deodara ’Ibridio’ Cedrus deodara ’Inversa Pendula’ Cedrus deodara ’Karl Fuchs’ Cedrus deodara ’Kashmir’ Cedrus deodara ’Kékes’ Cedrus deodara ’Kingsville’ Cedrus deodara ’Klondike’ Cedrus deodara ’Lakeview’ Cedrus deodara ’Lime Glow’ Cedrus deodara ’Limelight’ Cedrus deodara ’Little Fatso’ Cedrus deodara ’Lohbrunner’s Weeper’ Cedrus deodara ’Macpenny’s Seedling’ Cedrus deodara ’Mailand’ Cedrus deodara ’Maxima Pendula’ Cedrus deodara ’Miles High’ Cedrus deodara ’Monkinn’ Cedrus deodara ’Monstrose Veil’ Cedrus deodara ’Montana Verdea’ Cedrus deodara ’Mountain Aire’ Cedrus deodara ’Mountain Beauty’ Cedrus deodara ’Mt. Buffalo’ Cedrus deodara ’Mutabilis’ Cedrus deodara ’Mylor’ Cedrus deodara ’Mystic Ice’ Cedrus deodara ’Nana’ Cedrus deodara ’Nana Aurea’ Cedrus deodara ’Nivea’ Cedrus deodara ’Nugget’ Cedrus deodara ’Okawa’ Cedrus deodara ’Paktia’ Cedrus deodara ’Pannonia’ Cedrus deodara ’Pendula’ Cedrus deodara ’Pendula Hopper Select’ Cedrus deodara ’Pendula Seattle’ Cedrus deodara ’Polar Winter’ Cedrus deodara ’Procumbens’ Cedrus deodara ’Prostrata’ Cedrus deodara ’Prostrate Beauty’ Cedrus deodara ’Pygmaea’ Cedrus deodara ’Pygmy’ Cedrus deodara ’Quick Silver’ Cedrus deodara ’Raraflora Gold Prostrate’ Cedrus deodara ’Raywood’s Contorted’ Cedrus deodara ’Raywood’s Prostrate Dwarf’ Cedrus deodara ’Repandens’ Cedrus deodara ’Repens’ Cedrus deodara ’Robusta’ Cedrus deodara ‘Robusta Glauca’ Cedrus deodara ’Sampson’ Cedrus deodara ’Samson’ Cedrus deodara ’Sander’s Blue’ Cedrus deodara ’Scarabantia’ Cedrus deodara ’Scott’ Cedrus deodara ’Shalimar’ Cedrus deodara ’Sharp’s Golden Weeping’ Cedrus deodara ’Silver Mist’ Cedrus deodara ’Silver Spring’ Cedrus deodara ’Snow Sprite’ Cedrus deodara ’Swan Creek’ Cedrus deodara ’Tenuifolium’ Cedrus deodara ’Tristis’ Cedrus deodara ’Turtleback’ Cedrus deodara ’Twisted Growth’ Cedrus deodara ’Twisted Weeper’ Cedrus deodara ’Uncinata’ Cedrus deodara ’Upright’ Cedrus deodara ’Uwe’ Cedrus deodara ’Vaneta’ Cedrus deodara ’Variegata’ Cedrus deodara ’Variegata Alba’ Cedrus deodara ’Variegated’ Cedrus deodara ’Veronica’ Cedrus deodara ’Verticillata’ Cedrus deodara ’Verticillata Glauca’ Cedrus deodara ’Victoria’ Cedrus deodara ’Vink’s Golden’ Cedrus deodara ’Viridis’ Cedrus deodara ’Viridis Prostrata’ Cedrus deodara ’Warrakilla’ Cedrus deodara ’Wawerly Ridge’ Cedrus deodara ’Well’s Golden’ Cedrus deodara ’Well’s Prostrate’ Cedrus deodara ’White Imp’ Cedrus deodara ’Wicky’s Delight’ Cedrus deodara ’Wiesemanni’ Cedrus deodara ’Wyndimere’
Copyright © Aljos Farjon, James E. Eckenwalder, IUCN, Conifers Garden. All rights reserved.
